The Sandy Steele Mystery MEGAPACK: 6 Young Adult Novels by Roger Barlow

Author:Roger Barlow [Barlow, Roger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, young adult, sleuth, ya, detective
Amazon: B01DYY83WU
Publisher: Wildside Press
Published: 2016-04-06T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Safe in Port

That night, under a star-dusted sky, with the lights of Buffalo to guide her and beckon her on, the battered James Kennedy limped into port.

And waiting to greet her, in addition to her owner and his personal physician, was a throng of chattering newspaper reporters and photographers. The tale of the James Kennedy’s ordeal at sea had preceded her. Even as the vessel was slowly warped into her berth, photographers raced alongside her in excitement-eagerly snapping pictures of her damaged superstructure with its wrecked pilothouse. The flashing of their light bulbs added to the general air of excitement.

The moment the ship was securely in port, the newspapermen came hurrying up the gangplank.

179

“Where’s the skipper?” they shouted. “Where’s Captain West?”

“There he is!” one of them shouted in dismay. “He’s gone ashore already.”

True enough. The moment the newshawks had come aboard the James Kennedy and spilled over her decks, Captain West had seized the chance to slip down the gangplank. Now he was hastening out of sight. He all but broke into a run when he heard the yell of the newsman who had identified him. But he slowed again when he saw that his path would take him past Mr. John Kennedy, the employer he had attempted to betray. His step faltered. He tried to lift his eyes to the level of Mr. Kennedy’s, to brazen it out. But he could not. His gaze fell.

He slunk by and disappeared in the darkness.

With a heavy sigh, Mr. Kennedy turned to the man beside him and said, “Come, Doctor—we’d better have a look at that James boy.”

The two men made their way up the gangplank.

180

“Sandy!” Mr. Kennedy exclaimed, when he caught sight of the tall, blond youth standing at the head of the ramp. “Goodness, boy, I’m certainly glad to see you.” His face took on a worried look and his eyes searched Sandy Steele’s lanky frame. “You’re all right, aren’t you, boy? I mean, I certainly wouldn’t want John Steele holding me responsible for—”

“Oh, I’m fine, sir,” Sandy said, smiling. “Just a bit hungry, that’s all.”

“We’ll fix that soon enough,” Mr. Kennedy vowed. “But let’s have a look at your friend first. Where is he?”

“Down below, sir. Here, I’ll lead the way.”

Sandy and Mr. Kennedy and the physician, whose name was Dr. Hilliard, disappeared down the hatch. As they did, a tall, thin, furtive figure crept around the cabin. It glanced around fearfully, before sneaking down the gangplank and running up the wharf.

It was Mr. Briggs.

Below, meanwhile, Dr. Hilliard had gently unwrapped the torn sheets bound around Jerry James’s ankle. He studied the injured member with professional concern. Both Jerry and Sandy watched his face anxiously, for both of them were thinking of the football season that lay ahead.

“John,” Dr. Hilliard said, with mock gravity, “if they had more people like this young oak stump around, I’d be out of business.”

“Hooray!” Sandy cried, and Jerry James grinned with delight.

181

“Of course,” the doctor hurried on, “you’ll need a cane for a week or two, young man.

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